New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-22


fBY TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE.I
WASHINGTON, Aug 2L-It was stated in THE TRIBUNE
recently that certain drafts had been issued by the
Treasury Department for the payment OF claims on
account Of surveys OF public lands in California. which
accounts IN some not properly certified by
tho Commissioner OF the General Land Office In
accordance with law, and that in drafts had
been thus issued for the benefit OF claimants whose
counts had been already ouca paid. These statements
were denied by Controller Durham who, 1t appears, Is
the Treasury official whose certificate drafts are
issued for payments of the public land
vice. In substance Judge Durham reported as say
ing that
The story that the First Controller had approved &C
counts for surveying public lands that did not come to
era Land Office is wholly without foundation; that he
had passed account that had not been approved BY
authority accounts in the General Land Office
that he had over accounts In the First and Fifth Audi
tors Offices and called Commissioner Sparks
TO state the accounts OF Downey and Grant surveying
jerks rendered opinion that Mr. Sparks could not be
called to state account until he was ready to do So
took up the Downey and Grant claims and approved
them. aud they went IN due course to the
But thero were somo old surveying accounts which
had been approved by the COMMISSIONS OF the General
came in approved in the First conIoors office and
paid in part tho state Of the Appropriation preventing
have asked for the rest OF their money, and
it has BEEN oS Of paid which then ooad as 'h1Ss Ss
paid and their claims had been through the
flee and tho Controllers Office. The General Land 0lce
Is prosecuting forty thieves In California for frauds IN
these prosecutions that these old Claims we're
and ought NJ. to be paid Tho Controller knows n0nine
counts that he passed had been approved by the then
Commissioner OF the General Land ONCE and that having
been done once the accounts were OF course not sent
back there for another examination when the claimants
asked for the unpaid balance OF their bills
II will be observed that the regoing carefully wordsd
N n
cate payments have been made and that the Controller
seeks TO show that he has made no payments on accounts
which not approved by Commissioner OF the GEN.
cral Land Office at some time, although ne admits
that he knows nothing about tho facts concerning tho
alleged fraudulent surveying claims from California,
land has no means OF knowing" Nevertheless, he
maintains is right and proper for him to pay sus
pcious claims provided they have received the approval
Of a Commissioner OF the General Land ONCE at
any time. In fact, It may be fairly SAID that
Controller Durham man'ests singular anxiety to pay
the controvered claims. Now as to the duplicate pay
ment. The TRIBUNE correspondent again asserts that
thoy we're made the records of the Treasury
Depart will show that they were ma To- The drafts
referred In THE TRIBUNE Issued by the treasurer
OF the United Controller Durhams certificate In
payment OF balances claimed to be due deputy surveyors
In California varied in amount the largest one being for
some $500 The claims had been reported to the Con-
trol.r by the Commissioner OF the General Land Ohice
as payable because Of deficit In the deposits all
OF tnen having arisen from contracts for surveys under
what is known the special deposit system. Inc
drafts we're issued despite the fact that
the Controller had not made inquiry OF
the Commlssionor OF the General Land Ohice to
ascertain tho deficit in special deposits had bsen
made up aud sent 10 the Surveyor General OF Cali
forua be delivered to ts payees these drafts
were for the payment OF claims which had been already
paid and the accounts closed Two of them were either
returned TO tho Treasury subsequently, or the amounts
tlf cnile lectsi
turah 10 tho Treasury. Tho third draft
which for about Si0o, was delivered
to person has not yet eturnedt or refunded the
proceeds and Treasury therefore stands loser 10 tha
extent Surely Controller Durham will not deny tho
correctness OF the foregoing statement much as no may
regret the caressness-or whatever 1t may no called
which has placed him In so awkward pro-
dcanent. Now % some OF tho oIher
features OF the subject. II is again asserted that
Controller Durham accounts certified 10 him by his
predecessor In office, wing balances due and unpaid
owing TO deficit Ia deposts"eases In most OF which
the and deputy surveyors had been In
formed that payment could not be made until SUCH
dencs had been ade soodhas certihedt the oaanceso
the the United states for payment and they
have been paid Probably It may be fairly claimed oy
the Comlnss OF the General Land oico that this
course within the letter OF the law and the power
OF the Controller least unsafe In view OF the TACT
that the claims belong class which should be closely
scrutnized.
But Controller Durham gone still further. He has
certified for payment at least one acoount-and 1t
has been paid-whieh had been rejected
by the Commissioner OF the General Land
oice as fraudulent notice OF which rejection was seen
by him. la th. and other like cases the Commissioners OF
the General Land Office been informed by the Con
troler pay had boon made despite the ~rt'en
request OF the former that they Do not made
And this Is not all In at least ono other case whore
the account OF deputy surveyor was sus-
peudsd py tho Commissioner of the General Land
Onice for all Investigation or the survey by speciai
sIamnsr-whero upon the report ot tue examiner sno
claim reduced to loss than $1,000 anu whore tne
special deposits amounted 10 only S35Oo-the control
ler Ignored tho action OF the Commissioner OF the Cen
era Land Office both 20 the reduction OF tho amount
and the notification that only $500 was available and
paid the full claim, amounting to nearly $4,000.
There il still more Many old claims Oh
United States deputy surveyors some OF the uahs 40
far back as 1874 and which were supposed TO haVo Deeh
maid ON the certificates OF the predecessors of the present
Commissioner OF General Land Ohice and on account
nj which there was no deficit of specia deposits IL Is
asserted have been raked up and the items
therein plid on the certificate OF the Contoer oucu
payments are clearly violation Of Section 400 OF the
Revised Statutes, which reads
All returns relative TO the public lands shall be maze
to tho OF the General Land Office; and ne
sbal have power audit aud settle all puDo accounts
any such accounts shall certify the valance and ira rs
init account with the vouchers anu " and
First Controller OF the Treasury for his examination anu
decision thereon
There b still another fact which 1t may be pertinent 10
| mention Upon United States deputy surveyors
accounts in California largo sums oil money nave oeo
maid in excess of the estimated Government hsomIy'
| acooriing To the terms OF the contract one deputy
suryeyor for example, obtained three contracts 10
survey public lands under the special deposit system
These contracts dated respectively December .
1879 December g. 1879, and January 26 1881 ana 'ho
total amount was $4,000. The aggregate .mouht @ 70
| in he ul
| mara than -uve times tho original estimate. Was any
part of this sum paid Controller Durhams cer''i'
| cate y - ~,
Another deputy surveyor obtained contraction Jan.
nary 49, 1880 for 81 OoO and has managed 20 coec'
the pretty sum OF S25,s36 95. is Controller Durham